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Veterinary Services: Animal Welfare

Asked by Ruth JonesLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 20 April 2026UIN 126680

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Law Foundation's report entitled A Pig’s Tail: How Europe is moving beyond routine tail docking, published in April 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the levels of pig tail docking.

Answered by Dame Angela Eagle

As the Government made clear in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, we take the issue of pig tail docking very seriously. Working with industry and the veterinary profession to reduce the prevalence of tail docking is a priority. The Government will be carefully reviewing the Animal Law Foundation’s report as it considers the appropriate next steps.

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